Pressure control mechanism



1935- M. A. CASERTA PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1930 INVENTOH MICHELE A.CASERTA BY W W ATTORNEY 1935- M. A. CASERTA PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M|CHELE A ,CASERTA BY I W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM Michele A. C'aserta, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 19, 1930, Serial No. 437,239

20 Claims.

This invention relates to pressure control mechanisms and more particularly to a construction and arrangement thereof tending to simplify, render more efiicient and improve the same generally.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a mechanism for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to a fluid receptacle from a source of supply such, for instance, as a compressor, in such a way as to maintain in said receptacle a substantially constant pressure.

' the invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary semi-diagrammatical sectional view of one of the forms of my invention;

Figure 2 is a similar View of another form of construction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a plane normal to Figure 2 and passing through line 33, or the plane of movement of lever 35;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional elevational view illustrating a form of latching device adaptable to rod 3, for instance in the part extending through chamber IS in the form of invention illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of construction of my invention, and

Figure 6 is a similar View of still another modified form of construction.

Referring now more especially to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and more particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that the reference character I indicates a compressed fluid reservoir or receptacle, in one wall of which a flexible diaphragm 2 is located. While this diaphragm is shown as corrugated, it obviously can also be made plain and of any desired flexible material. One side of the diaphragm is subject to the pressure in the reservoir, while the other side thereof is subject to atmospheric pressure.

Connected to diaphragm 2 is a rod 3, this rod being also rigidly connected to a second dia- 5 phragm 8. The elasticity of the diaphragms themselves, can be employed to normally maintain the diaphragms, and as a consequence the rod 3, in a predetermined position of rest. However, in the present embodiment of the inven- 10 tion, a spring 5 is employed which acts on one side of diaphragm 2 as clearly illustrated in the drawings and tends to keep rod 3 in the fully retracted position, which allows injection of fluid in the reservoir.

The reference character 5 indicates a flow control means or check-valve which permits the passage of fluid from the supply conduit l2 through conduit Hi and into the reservoir, this checkvalve preventinga flow of the fluid in the opposite direction.

Diaphragms 2 and 8 have a wall arranged therebetween providing chambers 1 and I5, through which rod 3 passes. In order to make this intermediate wall fluid-tight at the point which the rod 3 passes through, I have provided a fluid tight means or diaphragm 6 which permits the rod 3 to slide but prevents the passage of fluid from chamber 1 to chamber IE, or vice versa. Moreover, it will be noted that the dimensions of this diaphragm are such that the action of fluid pressure thereon from either side is smaller than the corresponding action on diaphragms 2 and 8, so that this action will not affect the movement .of rod .3 as controlled by diaphragms 2 and 8.

The reference character .1 indicates a chamber in communication with the source of compressed fluid in conduits or passages l2 and M. When check-valve l I is closed, the pressure in chamber 7 is the same as that in conduit l2 and reservoir I. When the check-valve .l I is open the pressure in chamber 1 is atmospheric.

The reference character 9 indicates a calibrated aperture providing communication between chamber 1 5 and the atmosphere, while the reference character 10 indicates a relatively large aperture or port establishing constant communication between chamber I6, at the right hand side of diaphragm 8, and the atmosphere.

The check-valve H when closed causes the fluid pressure from conduit 42 to pass through conduit l4 and past check-valve 4 into reservoir I, whereas when rod 3 has opened check-valve l l, the fluid rod snap from one position to the other.

pressure from conduit I2 passes into chamber I6 and escapes through port In.

The reference character 25 indicates a release valve for releasing fluid to port or conduit 26 connected to the device to be operated or work to be performed. The reference character 21 indicates a relatively smaller port or conduit establishing communication between conduit 26 and chamber I5.

It will now be seen that if compressed fluid is supplied by any source through line I2, the valve II being in the closed position, said fluid will exert its pressure in chamber I and will enter reservoir I through line I4 and check-valve 4. When the pressure in reservoir I reaches a predetermined value, the diaphragms 2 and 8 are so influenced by the pressure that they oblige rod 3 to lift check-valve I I, setting communication between port I2 and the atmosphere. Through said communication, the fluid will be discharged instead of being forced into the reservoir. The pressure in chamber I is also released, and dia hragm 8 no longer exerts the action that compels rod 3 to unseat ball II.

Rod 3 would therefore have a tendency to return to its original position and let ball II seat again, if it were not kept in the open position by friction and preferably also by snap means (not shown in Figure l and indicated in one of the many forms suitable in Figure 4).

The flexibility of the diaphragms, the springs, the friction in moving parts and the snap means, can be so regulated that rod 3 will be kept in the open position after a predetermined pressure has been reached, if said pressure is kept inside the reservoir, but it will spring back to the closed or charge position for the slightest drop of pressure in the reservoir. In some cases, owing to the very small dimensions of parts and a very cold temperature which freezes the lubricant applied to the moving parts, said parts might fail to move, especially after having been idle for a long period. In View of such cases, provision is made to the end that the rod 3 will be positively pulled back by great force whenever compressed fluid is released from the reservoir through valve 25. In fact, part of said fluid will flow through line 21, fill chamber I5 and build a pressure in said chamber before it is allowed to escape through the calibrated hole 9. This hole can be very small, since it is only used to keep atmospheric pressure in chamber I5 during normal conditions. The pressure built in chamber I5 as above explained, will exert its action in pulling back rod 3, letting valve II close, and more compressed fluid will be-forced into the reservoir, every time fluid from reservoir I is released through valve 25.

In Figure 4 is shown a form of snap-latch means which can conveniently be applied to rod 3, to the end that it will either allow ball II to seat tightly on its seat, or will lift said ball decidedly off its seat, which conditions contribute to the proper operation of my invention.

In the form shown in Figure 4, the casing provides two recesses preferably in correspondence with chamber I6, in which recesses two balls 39 can slide. Rod 3 is provided with two grooves which correspond to open and closed positions of the valve I I, and in which the balls 39 are pushed by action of springs 40. The action of the diaphragms 2 and 8, as described above, makes the Figure 2 shows in a sectional View, a different form of the same invention, in which bellows are used, although other forms can easily be devised,

I I is in closed position, said compressed fluid will exert pressure inside of bellows 3 in chamber I and will enter reservoir I through line I4 and valve l. Also, the compressed fluid inside the reservoir I will exert its pressure inside of bellows 2, communicating with the reservoir. Under the action of internal pressure, bellows 2 and 8 push one against the other the two attachments 3E! and 3 I, which are fastened to the top of said bellows, against the tension of spring 653 which tends to keep them apart and keep lever -I8 in the extreme position shown in the figures. This makes the levers I1 and I8 rotate around pivot I9 and extremity 2B of lever I8 move toward point 22. When 20 passes the line of pivot 2| and point 32, spring 23 pulls lever 24 and attached rod against ball II, which is thus unseated. By this action, pressure is released in chamber I and attachment 3| is pulled back, making lever I8 rotate around pivot I9 and extremity 20 have a tendency to pass again, in its way back, line 2 I--32. A slight drop in pressure in reservoir is sufficient to move backwards attachment 3!] and lever I'I enough to make point 20 effectively pass line 2I32, by which lever 24 and attached rod are briskly pulled back and ball II is allowed to seat. Spring 50 (which is the equivalent of spring 5 in the construction shown in Figure 1) has the purpose of helping the resilient bellows 2 and 8 to keep lever I8 in the position shown in the figures, and can be dispensed A with in some cases.

In Figure 3, 25 indicates the release valve, as before, and 25 the main line from it to the work to be performed. The reference character 35 indicates a lever pivoted around point 3'! of bracket 38, and conveniently operated by button 35 to open valve 25. The parts are so proportioned that the end of lever 35 engages lever 24 and obliges it to move and let valve I! close, only when lever 35 is operated to open valve 25, while lever 35 does not interfere with the normal movements of lever 24 when valve 25 is closed. It will thus be seen that this arrangement provides a positive means for letting valve I I close and more compressed fluid to be suppliedto the reservoir whenever valve 25 is thrown open and fluid is released in this Way from reservoir I; Said positive action is obtained by mechanical means in this form, while it is provided by fluid pressure in the form shown in Figure l.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have illustrated semi-dia-= grammatically, two modified forms of my invention corresponding in general to the forms here- Said lever 51! is terminated member 4! is pushed by spring 48 to engage clutch, member 46, connected to the crankshaft of compressor as which delivers compressed fluid through line I2 in the usual manner. When the pressure reaches a predetermined value, rod 3 makes lever 50 disengage the clutch.

The other parts of this form of construction work in the same way as parts designated by similar reference characters in the form shown in Figure l, and a description of their operation is therefore omitted. It shall be understood, however, that soon after the compressor has been stopped, the pressure in the connections between the compressor and the receptacle drops to atmospheric, due to leaks in the compressor valves, and diaphragm 8 reacts on rod 3 in the same Way as shown in Figure 1.

In the form shown in Figure 6, lever ll corresponding to lever 24 of Figures 2 and 3, terminates in a fork which controls the longitudinal movement of gear 52 slidably but non-rotatably mounted on power driven shaft 43. According to the pressure reached in the pressure regulator, said gear is made to slide and engage or disengage gear M! which is connected to the crankshaft of compressor 45, which in turn delivers compressed fluid through port l2. A cross section of this form carried through the plane of movement of lever 35, would be similar to Figure 3.

The function of the'other parts of this form being similar to that of parts designated by siminumerals in Figures 2 and 3, a complete description of their operation is here omitted.

While several forms of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in this art that various other changes, modifications and rearrangements of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid compressor, a fluid receptacle, means forming a passage connecting said compressor to said receptacle, means for driving said compressor, and means operable in response to the pressure in said receptacle and the pressure in said passage for controlling the pressor driving means.

2. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid compressor, a fluid receptacle, means forming a passage connecting said compressor to said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid rom said receptacle including a passage, means for driving said compressor and means acting in response to the pressure in said fluid receptacle and in said release means passage for controlling said compressor driving means.

3. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid compressor, a fluid receptacle, .means forming a passage connecting said compressor to said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid from said receptacle, means for driving said compressor, and means actuated by said release means for controlling said compressor driving means.

4. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid compressor, a fluid receptacle, means forming a passage connecting said compressor to said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid from said receptacle including a passage-way, means for driving said compressor and means operable responsively to the pressure in said reease means passage for controlling said compressor driving means.

5. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid' compressor, a fluid receptacle, means forming a passage connecting said compressor to said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid from said receptacle, means for driving said compressor, and means mechanically connecting said last mentioned means to said means for releasing the compressed fluid.

6. In a pressure control mechanism, fluid compressing means, a fluid receptacle, means forming a passage connecting said compressing means to said receptacle, and means operable in response to the pressures in said receptacle and in said passage for controlling said compressing means, said operable means tending to operate the control in the same direction for similar variations of said pressures.

7. In a pressure control mechanism, fluid compressing means, a fluid receptacle, flow controlling means between said compressing means and said receptacle, and means operable in response to the pressures on either side of said flow coni trolling means for controlling the compressing means, said operable means tending to operate said control in the same direction for similar variations of said respective pressures.

8. In a pressure control mechanism, fluid com- 0 pressing means, a fluid receptacle, flow control means between said compressing means and said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid from said receptacle including a passage, and

means acting in response to the pressure in said fluid receptacle and the pressure in said passage for controlling said fluid compressing means.

9. In a pressure control mechanism, fluid cornpressing means, a fluid receptacle, flow controlling means between said compressing means and said receptacle, means for releasing compressed fluid from said receptacle, and means actuated by said release means for controlling said compressing means.

10. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a port, a member for controlling the activity of said means, means responsive to the pressure in said receptacle and means responsive to the pressure in said port, said two last mentioned means conjointly acting to operate said controlling member.

11. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a port, a member for controlling the activity of said means, means responsive to the pressure in said receptacle and means responsive to the pressure in said ports, said two last mentioned means conjointly acting to operate said controlling member, and snap means to hold said controlling member in either of its extreme positions.

12. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a port, a member for controlling the activity of said means, means responsive to the pressure in said receptacle and means responsive to the pressure in said port, said two last mentioned means conjointly acting to operate said controlling member, means controlling the delivery of fluid from said receptacle, and means interconnecting said last mentioned means with said controlling member.

13. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a flow control means, a member for controlling the activity of said injecting means, means responsive to the pressures on either side of said flow control means and tending to actuate said control member in the same direction for similar variations of said pressures, and snap means tending to hold said controlling member in predetermined positions.

14. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a flow control means, a member for controlling the activity of said injecting means, means responsive to the pressures on either side of said flow control means and tending to actuate said control member in the same direction for similar variations of said pressures, snap means to hold said controlling member in predetermined positions, and resilient means tending to hold said controlling member in one of its positions.

15. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a flow control means, a member for controlling the activity of said injecting means, snap means tending to hold said member in predetermined positions, resilient means tending to move said member in one direction, means responsive to the pressures on either side of said flow control means and collaborating in overcomingthe snap and the resilient means and moving the control member in the opposite direction from one position to another when a predetermined pressure is attained, one of said responsive means so proportioned as to be sufficient to hold said member in said other position at said predetermined pressure.

16. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a flow control means, a member for controlling the activity of said injecting means, means responsive to the pressures on either side of said flow control means collaborating to move said control member, means controlling the delivery of fluid from said receptacle, and means interconnecting said last mentioned means with said controlling member.

17. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle including a port, a con- 5 trolling member movable between two positions, one corresponding to activity and the other to inactivity of said injecting means, means responsive to the pressure in said receptacle and means responsive to the pressure in said port, said two last mentioned means collaborating to move said controlling member from one of said positions to the other.

18. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, compressing means active in injecting fluid in said receptacle, a member controlling the activity of said means, means for releasing fluid ,from said receptacle, and a second member operating said first member and said release means.

19. In a pressure control mechanism, a fluid receptacle, a compressor and a port for injecting fluid in said receptacle, flow control means between said port and said receptacle, pressure regulating means for said receptacle, means responsive to the pressures on opposite sides of said flow control means collaborating to operate said regulating means, means for releasing fluid from said receptacle and means interconnecting said last mentioned means with said regulating means.

20. In means for injecting fluid in a reservoir including a compressor and a member movable between a closed and an open position to control the pressure of said fluid in said injecting means, fluid flow controlling means between said injecting means and said reservoir, means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir tending to hold said member in said open position, means responsive to the pressure in said injecting means tending to hold said member in said open position, resilient means contrasting said pressure responsive means and tending to hold said member in said closed position, and snap means tending to hold said member in either said closed or said open position.

MICHELE A. CASERTA. 

